2016_11_16_WBK_Holt_Lauren_Dribbling_01_puma
Carlos Puma
72
Winner UC Riverside UCR 12-10 (6-3 BWC)
69
Cal Poly CP 7-14 (3-6 BWC)
Winner
UC Riverside UCR
12-10 (6-3 BWC)
72
Final
69
Cal Poly CP
7-14 (3-6 BWC)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
UC Riverside UCR 21 13 23 15 72
Cal Poly CP 19 18 14 18 69

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women's Basketball Erases Eight-Point Second Quarter Deficit In 72-69 Road Win Over Cal Poly

San Luis Obispo, CA—The UC Riverside Women's Basketball Team turned up the defensive intensity in the third quarter Saturday afternoon, transforming a three-point halftime deficit into a six-point advantage, and the Highlanders never trailed again en route to a 72-69 victory.

The win helped UC Riverside (12-10, 6-3) keep pace with second place Long Beach State (16-8, 7-2), who beat UC Irvine 68-63 earlier in the day, and move into a third-place tie with UC Santa Barbara (11-11, 6-3), who dropped a 62-48 decision to UC Davis.

In that pivotal third quarter, the Mustangs misfired on 13 of 17 shots from the field and all six of their three-pointers, while the Highlanders made seven of 11 shots and went seven of seven from the charity stripe. Michelle Curry scored nine of her 17 points in the third, but UCR couldn't quite shake Cal Poly.

The Highlanders lead vacillated between two snd seven points throughout the fourth quarter, but UC Riverside maintained its composure as Réjane Vérin made five of six free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Vérin went 10 of 12 on the night from the charity stripe on her way to a 21st straight double digit scoring effort (16). Lauren Holt, who kept the Highlanders in the game with 12 first half points, finished with a game-high 19.

The Mustangs (7-14, 3-6) built their first-half advantage behind the strength of their bench. The top two leading scorers for both teams struggled over the first 20 minutes of play as Vérin and Simone DeCoud combined to score seven points, while the Leaupepe sisters, Lynn and Dynn, scored just six points. Cal Poly's bench outscored the Highlanders' 17-6 in the first, however, to give the Mustangs a 37-34 lead at the break.

Hannah Gilbert paced the Mustangs with 12 at the intermission, but finished with just 16 on the night. Lynn Leaupepe posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead Cal Poly.

The Highlanders remain on the road next week, traveling to the Aloha State for a Wednesday, February 8 meeting with the Rainbow Wahine. Tip is slated for 9 pm PT.